Fire-escape



(No Model) S. H. ROPER. FIRE ESGAPE.

INvENTUR:

Q IiIlmI-ibw Patented Mar. 6, 1894.

Ell-I WITNESSES?- UNITED STATES ATENT rricn.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,118, dated March 6,1894.

Application filed May 19,1893- derial No. 474,766. (No model.)

To all 2072 0711, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER H. Borne, of Boston, in the county ofSufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire-escapes, and is for improvements on theconstruction shown in my former patent, No. 439,19Lgranted October 28,1890.

The chief object of the present invention is to render the structuremore compact, and to this end theinvention may be said to consist inconstructing a resistance chamber within the drum on which the line ortape winds, whereby the width of the device is considerably reduced overthat shown in my former patent above referred to, in which the drum isat one side of the resistance chamber.

Incidental to the above-named improvement, the invention includes anovel construction of bearing, which prevents escape of fluid around thespindle from the resistance chamber.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which-Figure l-shows a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 shows a sectionon line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a side elevatiomwith the covenplateof the casing removed.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In the drawings: the letter r1. designates a casing, which is adapted tobe suspended from a suitable fixed support, as a sill, by means of achain of attached to it and having a hook a at its free end. Thus thesaid casing will be held practically stationary. A spindle 1) extendsthrough the said casing, and a drum or reel 1') is mounted on saidspindle. Aline, preferably a steel tape a, is attached to the drum, andwinds on the same within the easing, the latter having an opening in oneside through which the tape issues from the case. In thepresentinstance, a circular chamber d is formed within the drum, and theretarding devices are inclosed in this chamber. The retarding deviceshere illustrated are the same as shown in my former patent abovereferred to, consisting of an abutment 0 formed integral with thespindle b and fitting closely to the wall of the chamber; and a numberof pistons h, pivoted to the chamber wall and spring actuated cessesbeing formed in the wall of the chamher, into which the pistons mayrecede in order to pass the abutment. The chamber is filled with asuitable fluid, such as glycerine, for instance, which is preferred onaccount of its density. Under one direction of rotation of the drum, thepistons form walls, which offer resistance to the fluid, and therebyretard the rotation; whereas, under the reverse direction of rotation,the pistons yield to the fluid. Thus a heavy body may be lowered bymeans of the tape 0 with safety, as the resistance prevents rapidrotation of the drum. The pistons fit with a looseness which permitsrestricted passage of the fluid by them in unwinding. At the same time,the tape may be freely wound up on the drum by applying a crank or othersuitable handle thereto. This form of retarding device is fullydescribed in my former patent hereinbet'ore re ferred to, and referencemay be had thereto for a fuller understanding.

Other retarding devices may be arranged in the drum than those abovedescribed, as this is not a feature of the present invention and theaction does not depend on the number of pistons.

The bearing where the drum turns on the spindle is constructed toprevent escape of the fluid from the resistance chamber, as follows: Thedrum is formed with a tubular bearing I), which projects from the baseof the resistance chamber, and extends over the spindle, and theabutment c is formed with an annular groove, so that it may extend overthe said tubular extension, as at h. It will be seen that the tubularbearing of the drum prevents the fluid from escaping around the spindle.The abutment fits against the base of the chamber, and a cover-plate 6113 secured to the drum and fits against the abutment, and also forms oneside of the case which incloses the tape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters 7 Patent, is-

1. A fire-escape, comprising in its construction a spindle and supporttherefor, a drum on said spindle, a chamber within the drum, an abutmentwithin said chamber and fast against the abutment, re

with the spindle, a movable wall in the chamber and adapted to coactwith the abutment and with fluid in the chamber to create resistance tothe rotation of the drum on the spindle, and a line or tape attached tothe drum and wound thereon, said line or tape surrounding theresistance-creating devices within the drum.

2. A fire-escape, comprising in its construction a spindle and supporttherefor, a drum on said spindle having a tubular bearing engaging thesame, a chamber Within the drum, an abutment Within the chamber and fastwith the spindle, said abutment extending

